ORLANDO, Fla. – Two major Central Florida transportation projects designed by DRMP have been recognized with Outstanding Project awards from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Florida (ACEC-FL) and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).
The I-4 at SR 557 Interchange Design-Build project was recently honored with the 2025 Outstanding Environmental Project Award, and in December of last year, it also received a 2025 Engineering Excellence Honor Award from ACEC-FL. The Wekiva Parkway Section 8 Interchange Design-Build project received the 2025 Outstanding Design-Build or Construction Manager (CM) at Risk Project Award. DRMP served as the prime design consultant on both projects.
“We’re proud of both projects and grateful to our partners, contractors, and every team member who helped bring them to life,” DRMP Senior Vice President of Alternative Delivery TJ Lallathin, PE, DBIA, said. “It takes a lot of collaboration, problem-solving, and trust to deliver projects like these, and it’s an honor to see that work recognized.”
I-4 at SR 557
The I-4 at SR 557 project is a $77 million design-build project for FDOT District 1 that addresses Central Florida’s growing population and increasing tourism while supporting future alternative transportation modes. The project
includes the construction of a wildlife crossing under I-4 – the first of its kind in Polk County – and realigned 2 miles of I-4 to accommodate high-speed rail, and the future ultimate typical section. It also converted the existing partial cloverleaf interchange at SR 557 into a diamond interchange with dual teardrop roundabouts, added emergency stopping areas on both I-4 ramps, and widened SR 557 from two to four lanes.
DRMP delivered approximately $1 million in cost savings to FDOT District 1 by shifting the SR 557 alignment to the east. This change allowed for single-phase bridge and roundabout construction, minimizing traffic disruptions, enhancing safety, reducing construction time, and eliminating the need to shut down I-4 during demolition.
“The wildlife crossing was an important part of this project that provided mitigation cost savings associated with wetland impacts that were approved by both the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) and the U.S Army Corps of Engineers (USACE),” DRMP Vice President and Environmental Services Group Leader George McLatchey, PWS, CEP, said. “This project was the first of its kind in the State of Florida to utilize the design and construction of a wildlife crossing to offset wetland impacts. We wanted to restore an important landscape connection for wildlife in this region that was severed by the original construction of this I-4 segment in 1959. We’re very proud to see this type of environmental work being valued and recognized.”
DRMP partnered on this project with Skanska USA Civil Southeast, Inc. (prime contractor), and subconsultants, Element Engineering Group, LLC, Foundation & Geotechnical Engineering, LLC (FGE), Protean Design Group, Inc., and Madrid CPWG.
Wekiva Parkway Section 8
The Wekiva Parkway Section 8 project, a $274.5 million design-build effort in Seminole County, served as the final segment of the Wekiva Parkway. It includes a 2.63-mile limited access toll road and a new system-to-system interchange that connects I-4, SR 417, and SR 429, completing the beltway around Central Florida. The project features 20 bridges, two widenings, 25 stormwater management facilities, all-electronic tolling, intelligent transportation systems (ITS), lighting, signage, pavement markings, signals, and complex traffic control plans.
Innovative design and construction methods produced $75 million in cost savings, improved safety and traffic operations, reduced bridge deck area by 200,000 square feet, preserved four existing bridges, and minimized long-term maintenance needs and environmental impacts. Sustainable design and construction practices further reduced resource use, impervious surface area, and preserved wetlands and conservation easements wherever possible.
DRMP partnered on this project with The Lane Construction Corporation (prime contractor) and subconsultants Ardaman & Associates, Inc., BCC Engineering, Inc., Bentley Group, Inc., Brindley Pieters & Associates, Inc. (BPA), Ardurra Group, Inc., Florida Bridge & Transportation (FBT), Osiris 9 Consultant, LLC, and Terracon Consultants, Inc.
About DRMP
DRMP is a multi-discipline firm serving clients in the public, private and industrial sectors in the development of infrastructure and has been in business since 1977. DRMP currently employs 700 professionals in 24 office locations spread strategically across our service area. Today, DRMP is ranked among Engineering News-Record’s “Top 500 Design Firms” in the United States. For more information, please visit www.drmp.com.
